Such was the case Wednesday when Senate Democrats squeaked a super-controversial bill through a committee while a Republican committee member was out of state. The bill would give in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.

That's dirty pool by the Democrats.

And yes, Republicans would have done the same thing. In fact, they flexed their majority often when they were in power.

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Committee knew that if they held the vote on the in-state tuition bill on Friday — as scheduled — it would fail. Though Democrats hold a 6 to 4 majority on the committee, one of their members is against the bill, as are all of the Republicans.

But with Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, in Florida helping his wife move her ailing father to a Colorado nursing facility, the committee's chairman, Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, rescheduled the vote for Wednesday. (Harvey intended to be at the scheduled Friday vote.)

The bill passed by a single vote in a Senate committee, and now goes to the full Senate. It enjoys the governor's support.

Democrats say Republicans could have simply appointed someone to fill in for Harvey, but Senate Minority Leader Josh Penry said that's not how it works.

"They announced the change of date (Tuesday), and a change of committee assignment requires a resolution, which has to be calendared — so it takes two days," Penry said.

Actually, as we said, Democrats simply exercised the power of the majority, which Republicans did often when they had the majority.

Adopting those tactics, however, only gives critics of the bill more fuel for an already furious fire. If Republicans had pulled a stunt like this one, Democrats would be screaming foul.

And the pendulum will eventually swing the other way, someday leaving Democrats vulnerable to GOP vengeance.

Regardless, we're pleased that Senate Bill 170 will move forward.

Children should not be held hostage to the vicious debate engulfing the issue of illegal immigration, nor should they pay for their parents' illegal behavior.

Helping children who already live here and who have finished high school gain a college education would only benefit Colorado's workforce, and help avoid a host of social ills and social services costs. (And yes, unless the federal government finally leads on immigration reform, any graduate would still face an uncertain future.)

Similar legislation has been approved in states like Kansas, Utah, Nebraska, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Officials have estimated that fewer than 200 undocumented students per year have used the in-state tuition rate. With similar rates expected here, it's hardly a catastrophic burden for colleges and universities.

SB 170 is good legislation and we urge the Senate to give it the consideration it deserves on its merits, and not the tricky tactics of its champions.

This story has been corrected in this online archive to reflect the bill's current status. It passed a Senate committee by a single vote, and goes now before the full Senate. It has not yet been before the House.